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Help your students better understand how pollution gets in our rivers. Read and act out the story as a class. Follow up with a discussion about the pollutants left in the water. I picked this activity because it gives students an image of what happens to our water when we do not keep it clean. I think it is important to teach them early on the importance of keeping our earth clean. I would use this activity close to earth day when we are learning about the earth and pollution.

This is a fantastic site for science projects, as well as guides for teachers on topics such as how to use a microscope. This site also offers products for sale for your science classroom, but the project ideas and printables are free. It is very user friendly, broken down by age group (students k-12 are covered), and discipline (Life Science, Physics, etc.). I would use this to begin researching something I haven't taught before to look for inspiration and supplemental material.

Off the Rail is an exciting app that let's kids build and enjoy their very own roller coasters in a virtual environment. The fun is in the on the fly building while they are riding the coaster. With varying difficulty levels and extras to add lots of interest to each coaster, this app is one that will have little creative minds going for hours. I like this app because it will get my students creative minds thinking! It really encourages the students to use STEM! This app could be used when students finish their work early or it could even be used as a center.

This application allows for students to build their own roller coaster in a virtual reality. I really like the idea of students creating and constructing things. This application lets students create whatever their mind wants to. I believe that creativity is an easy way for students to become engaged in a lesson or activity. I would personally use this app to supplement a lesson focusing on force.

The science movies teach kids educational topics like animals, habitats, plants, land, matter, forces, space, energy, and weather. I really enjoy the animals section since it talked about different types of animals and their habits such as hibernation, camouflage, migration and food chains. Throughout the early years i feel like this would benefit students since they are given videos, and text. This site is reliable and gears towards many learning styles.

Karen Pavlik discusses an inquiry-based lesson for an elementary weather unit. The students will predict which thermometer will have a higher temperature, one in a white sleeve or one in a black sleeve, and record their findings. I like this experiment because something is being tested, yet it has such a simple design. If I were to give this lesson, I would do a single experiment as a class, with one thermometer in a white sleeve and one in a black sleeve. I would allow students to write down their individual predictions beforehand regarding which, if either, would show a higher temperature after being left in the sun. I still remember a similar scenario from my early childhood years. One of my "alternate conceptions" was that darker would be cooler because shade is cooler. This lesson opens the door for further student inquiry and extensions to the lesson, such as testing different colors beyond just black and white.

"Monster Physics" is an app that allows the user to create and test his/her own machine using a variety of devices such as wheels, propellers, ropes, etc. After the user invents a machine, he/she is able to test it to see if it works. So, not only does this app allow students to create their own system, but it allows them to evaluate the effectiveness of their creation as well. I chose this app because it looks child-friendly and can easily be used for students to explore different mechanisms that I may not have readily available. Also, this app lets them create a device which may require too much time or space if attempted within the classroom. I would allow students to use this app during a rotation time or if they finish their assignment early in order to further their knowledge of mechanical systems as well as enhance their critical thinking skills.

Early learners are sure to love these introductory videos on the concept of the solar system. This series features high quality music and animation that will instantly engage kids, and which teachers will enjoy watching as well. Each video states facts about its subject in a catchy song to aid kids in retaining the information and exciting them to discover more. _____________________________________________________________________ I love these videos! This website provides many Storybots videos that all relate to the solar system. These videos are fun to watch and get students engaged. They provide information on everything in the solar system (planets, sun, Earth, stars). Each video provides a catchy song that draws students in, while also teaching them different things about the solar system. I chose this resource because I personally love all the videos. I think they provide a lot of information on the solar system, but in a fun way. I think students will really enjoy these videos, and I think they'll also learn a lot as well. I watched the sun video a couple times and I was already beginning to learn some of the lyrics! I think this resource could be used as a hook for any lesson about the solar system. These videos could be used as an introduction and will help get the students engaged in the material. Students will want to learn more once they watch these videos!